RAWALPINDI: Security forces claimed to have killed at least 40 militants and wounded 21 others since the start of ‘Operation Khyber 3’, which commenced last week in Khyber agency near the Pak-Afghan border.

In the treacherous terrain of Rajgal some 43 terrorists’ hideouts were also destroyed during airstrikes and ground assaults since the start of the internal battle against militants.

Security forces have occupied passes and are now consolidating their positions up in high mountains in Rajgal, said the Inter Services Public Relations in a statement issued on Monday.

It said during a search operation in Damo Drub huge reserve of arms and ammo including improvised explosive devices was recovered today.

Meanwhile, security forces arrested six terror facilitators during a combing operation in Tall Tehsil of Hangu and seized weapons and munitions from their possession.

On Sunday, security forces had arrested at least ten suspected militants in the same area during an operation, recovering huge cache of arms and explosives.

Pakistan army launched the ‘Operation Khyber 3’ on August 16 to effectively check and guard against militant movement along high mountains and all weather passes in Khyber Agency.

Pakistan has been battling a homegrown insurgency since 2004, following the US-led invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan in 2001 and the subsequent spillover of militants into its territory.

The army launched the ‘Operation Zarb-e-Azb’ in June 2014 in a bid to wipe out militant bases in North Waziristan tribal area and so bring an end to the bloody insurgency that has cost thousands of civilian lives.

Security in the country has since improved. Scattered attacks still take place, but they are fewer and of a lesser intensity than in previous years.